IEEE 1394 or USB powered computer light

• US 6,575,593 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Krietzman, Mark Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/862,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 362/198, 362/199, 362/287, 362/427, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/199
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light for use with computers containing one or more light emitting diodes on one or more flexible necks which is powered via the computers USB or IEEE 1394 port. An auxiliary USB or IEEE 1394 port may be combined with the plug-in light to allow for additional devices top be connected through the same port powering the light.

Claims

1. A computer light comprising:

a light-emitting diode;

a male jack which mates with a USB or IEEE 1394 port;

two long conductive lead wires each affixed at one end to either the anode or cathode of the light-emitting diode and at the other end to the appropriate contact on the male jack; and

,

a flexible support member to which said light-emitting diode and said long conductive lead wires and said male jack are affixed.

2. The computer light of claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch.

3. The computer light of claim 1, further comprising a connector body which supports both the flexible support member and the male jack.

4. The computer light of claim 1, further comprising a non-switched female USB or IEEE 1394 port formed as part of, or affixed to, said male jack.

5. The computer light of claim 1, further comprising a non-switched female USB or IEEE 1394 port formed as part of, or affixed to, the connector body.

6. The computer light of claim 1, further comprising current limiting circuitry of at least one resistor placed in between the light emitting diode and the male jack.

7. The computer light of claim 1, further comprising strobing circuitry, whereby the light-emitting diode may be strobed at a rate above the visual threshold.

8. The computer light of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diode emits a pre-determined wavelength between 400-700 nm.

9. The computer light of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diode emits white light.

10. A computer light comprising:

Two pairs of long conductive lead wires,

two or more light-emitting diodes, each conductively linked to one pair of said long conductive lead wires;

two or more flexible support member each of which supports on light-emitting diode and long conductive lead wire; and

,

a male jack which mates with a USB or IEEE 1394 port at one end, and which is conductively attached to both pairs of long conductive lead wires and flexible members at the other end.

11. The computer light of claim 10, further comprising an on/off switch for each of the two or more light emitting diodes.

12. The computer light of claim 10, further comprising a single on/off switch for the two or more light emitting diodes.

13. The computer light according to claim 10, further comprising a female USB or IEEE 1394 port formed as part of, or affixed to, said male jack.

14. The computer light of claim 10, further comprising a connector body which supports both the flexible support member and the male jack.

15. The computer light of claim 13, further comprising a connector body which supports both the flexible support member and the male jack.

16. The computer light of claim 10, further comprising current limiting circuitry of at least one resistor placed in between the at least light emitting diode and the male jack.

17. The computer light of claim 10, further comprising strobing circuitry, whereby the light-emitting diode may be strobed at a rate above the visual threshold.

18. The computer light according to claim 10, wherein each of the two or more the light-emitting diodes emits a light at a pre-determined wavelength between 400-700 nm.

19. The computer light according to claim 10, wherein each of the two or more the light-emitting diodes emits white light.

20. A computer light comprising:

a connector body;

a male jack which mates with a USB or IEEE 1394 port extending from the connector body;

an elongated flexible support member affixed at one end to the connector body and with a second end;

a LED receiving head affixed to, or formed as part of the second end of the flexible neck;

a light-emitting diode with an anode and cathode lead wire mounted within the LED receiving head;

two long conductive lead wires each affixed at one end to either the anode or cathode of the light-emitting diode and attached at the other end to the appropriate contact on the male jack;

said conductive lead wires each support by the flexible support; and

,

a resistor interposed between the light emitting diode and the male jack; and

,

an on/off switch interposed between the male jack and the light emitting diode.

21. A computer light comprising:

a connector body;

a male jack, corresponding to a USB or IEEE 1394 port affixed to the connector body;

at least one flexible elongated support member affixed to the connector body;

at least one light emitting diode supported at the second end of the at least one flexible elongated support; and

,

conductive lead wires connecting each light emitting diode to the male jack.

22. The computer light of claim 21 further comprising current limiting circuitry.

23. The computer light of claim 21 further comprising an on/off switch to control each of the at least one light emitting diodes.

24. A computer light comprising:

a flexible elongated support with a first and second end;

a male USB or IEEE 1394 jack affixed at the first end; and

,

at least one light emitting diode conductively linked to the male USB or IEEE 1394 jack affixed to the second end.